WASHINGTON – The federal judge who ordered President Donald Trump's name removed from the Kennedy Center has asked the administration to report by June 19 on plans for the Kennedy Center to remain open with public events during a renovation project.

The administration had announced the center would close July 4 for two years for $250 million in renovations. But in addition to removing Trump's name from the iconic arts center, U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper blocked the administration's plan to "wind-down" or "close" programming activities entirely.

Cooper asked for plans "for public access and ongoing programming, activities, and operations after July 5, 2026."

The court fight marked the latest setback in Trump's plans to overhaul the city with projects such as a new White House ballroom, a triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery and renovations to the Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

The Trump-appointed board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts voted March 16 to close the center for two years for renovations. The board also approved installing Trump's name on the side of the building with Kennedy's.

But Cooper ruled May 29 the board violated the 1964 law that created the center and designated the name honoring Kennedy alone. Workers scrubbed the center's website of Trump's name and spent hours June 12 erecting scaffolding and removing his name from the building. Tarps continue to cover where the name had been.

Trump had blasted Cooper's decision in a lengthy post on Truth Social, vowing to respond by working with Congress "to transfer this failing Institution back to them so they can make a determination as to what to do with it." The administration also appealed the decision.

But that left the future of the center uncertain. To protest Trump's takeover of the iconic center, numerous performers canceled shows, including Grammy and Oscar-nominated composer Philip Glass, the Washington National Opera and the Martha Graham Dance Company.

Trump announced Feb. 1 that he intended to close the center for renovations.

"I have determined that the fastest way to bring The Trump Kennedy Center to the highest level of Success, Beauty, and Grandeur, is to cease Entertainment Operations for an approximately two year period of time, with a scheduled Grand Reopening that will rival and surpass anything that has taken place with respect to such a Facility before," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post.

Judge Cooper halted that proposal last month, at least temporarily. Cooper blocked the administration from enforcing the board's "decision to 'wind-down' programming activities and 'close' the Center's doors, effective July 5, 2026."

In his latest order, Cooper asked for a status report to "apprise the Court of the status of plans for the Kennedy Center construction project, Board actions in that regard, and any other pertinent developments."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: After fight over Trump's name, judge demands Kennedy Center plans